Kobo Price: $15.99
I actually didn't even know what this book was about when I bought it on Kobo. I've read many other Jodi Picoult novels and decided that they were good enough to give another one a go. Although it was totally worth the read, it was a lot heavier than I expected. Lots of her novels surround difficult topics but for me this was by far the most difficult to read about. Reading about the holocaust is difficult any time but she certainly went into great detail here.
I think part of my struggle with this book is that I found the main character, Sage, very unusual and hard to relate with, she would definitely be considered a recluse. She is a baker who prefers to work at night so that she does not have to interact with people often. She faces a problematic moral decision when she learns a man in her grief group was an SS Officer during the war and everyone else in the community believes him to be a kind and contributing citizen completely unaware of his past history. Sage's grandmother happens to be a holocaust survivor which creates more conflict for her. The story jumps back and forth between Sage's life and a fictional story her Grandmother wrote during her time in a concentration camp.
There is a lot of depth to this story but I still found it tough to get through. I found the story shifting back and forth to be somewhat disorienting and if I put the book down for a few days I had a hard time getting back into it. The writing didn't "sound" like Jodi Picoult to me. Having said that I would still recommend giving it a read most especially to those who have read her other novels.
I use Jodi Picoult as one of my 'go to' authors. I can usually pick one up and always enjoy it. I hadn't seen this one though so I think I'll check it out! My nightstand is empty right now!
ReplyDeleteI had a similar view of this book. JP is probably my favourite author and I like how her books have a moral dilemma which really makes you think but this book was so depressing. I really wanted to know what happened next and who the old man really was but it was so tough to read. I do most of my reading before bed so I found it hard to read such a hard topic and then try to sleep.
ReplyDeleteI would still recommend it though.
I also read before bed, gave me a few nightmares for sure... Have you read the Book Thief? I haven't posted that review yet, but I loved it. Same era, just a different perspective of WWII.
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